INVALID DIVORCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13307, 13 October 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

INVALID DIVORCES.

: AX ARMY OF BIGAMISTS IX XEW YORK. ' MIDNIGHT MARRIAGES pi* HOTEL ' . * CHAr.A T :T. The amazing discovery that probably about c v divorce of every five which have been granted in Xew Yr:k during the last twenty yer.rs it invalid, and ti.au those who married again are bigamists aid the chilillegitimate. has jufct been announced in-New York. The computation is made on the basis of an examination of 'the divorce record papers in that citv for 1886 and 1887. It is proposed to make a complete examination for a period of twenty years, and there is every, reason, it is said, to suppose that similar flaws will be found during the entire. period, in which 490 divorces a year .were about the average for the first ten years, the subsequent averages being considerably higher. The . Census Bureau, which has been looking into the question, finds that the ' papers in many eases are grossly incomplete, .in • other words, the alleged divorce records do not. contain any final award or decree, "signed by judge, and without this they are invalid."' After tho oral decision in court. " Decree granted to plaintiff or defendant," it should have bean the duty of the attorney to prepare the formal decree and have this signed by judge 'and filed for record. This was precisely what 20 per cent; of the lawyers failed to do, either from carelessness or to save the fees already charged, to the client. Naturally, the discovery has created a great scandal,; and the Bar Association have been asked to investigate the affair, fully, with the object of seeing that in future records of divorce ' are legally ■complete.. As it is. competent lawyer* in New York do not hesitate to declare that many persons who remarried under the idea they were free are bigamists, and the only way to - lcgitimn.ti.se their children is by an Act of Legislature. The announcement has excited universal concern in New' York, because .tho difficulty .of a person always knowing whether he is ' , MARRIED, SINGLE, or a bigamist is already sufficiently grave, owing to the , ease with which, in; most States of the Union, you can get either wedded or . divorced. There have been cases on record ; in New York recently in which young couples have arrived at hotels late, rung up ■ the " hotel chaplain," a most complaisant individual, by telephone, and . been legally married by midnight,' At Coney Island, New : York's popular pleasure- resort, half a.-. ; dozen young couples this season, \ finding ,■ -they had missed the train,; decided they ■ might as well get married and stay ; the "night at one of . the crowd,-d boardinghouses in the vicinity. On several occasions the Coney Island chaplain has 1 been •' summoned • from his. bed for the purpose of marrying night visitors. It. is equally on record that one young couple entered the chaplain's bouse unannounced! and the prospective .bride;'.sea,ting herself "at;; the organ, played .the "Wedding . March," which roused the clergyman from his slumbers. The latter put on his dressing-gown and married his youthful visitor*. This laxity in marriage and divorce laws has occupiedthe minds of many serious Americans, and a strong movement is now' on foot with the object, of securing uniform divorce laws in the various States of the Union. On the. face of things it is ail anomaly that the cause of divorce iii one State is absolutely ignored by another, and • that if married people living in a. Slate where the'laws.are. strict disagree and want a divorce they can get, it. by, th<s simple expedient of resiov-. ing to another Str.ts where divorce ic eary..